How To Setup Port Forwarding

To complete port forwarding, your Amcrest IP Camera will need to be accessed via a web browser on a PC or Mac. Using the Local Web Access interface, the camera’s advanced settings will need to be configured.

In rare cases the peer-to-peer method used when setting up the camera can be knocked off the network for limited times due to a number of factors. In most cases the speed of the network the camera is connected to may be slower than the cameras requirements. Sometimes the router the camera is connected to can be interfering with the camera contacting the P2P server, causing the camera to drop connection and seem unavailable on mobile devices or off network computers.

Some routers vary restrictions from other basic routers, and some require the Internet Service Provider to make changes on their end. They can be much more secure and require port forwarding to have a device contact servers and networks outside the local network. Most routers today have Universal Plug and Play which helps other networked devices discover each other on the network. In this case it also helps the camera to establish a functional connection to networked services for data sharing, streaming, and playback on other devices not connected to the local network. Such as your phone or work computer.

Initial Setup and Logging In

1. Ensure your camera has been connected to the network via one of these setup methods:

2. Once your camera is connected to the internet you will need access to the Local Web Access interface, where the advanced settings can be configured. This can be done by using a PC or a Mac, insert the included CD and install the IP Config software. Alternatively, you can download the IP Config software for your specific operating system by selecting the appropriate link: Amcrest IP Config Tool for Windows or Amcrest IP Config Tool for Mac.

3. Open the IP Config software and hit the refresh button. The camera will appear in the device list. Click the E icon to open the camera in your default web browser. If your default web browser is not Internet Explorer on a PC or Safari on a Mac, we highly recommend you utilize these browsers at least for the initial set up process. We are using Internet Explorer in the following example:

4. If this is your first time setting up the camera, log in using the default login credentials (use admin for both the username and password). If you have already set up the camera previously on your smartphone or through another method, use the username and password that you configured previously. If this is your first time logging into the device, you will be required to change the default password for security reasons.

5. Once logged in, you will need to download a browser plugin to enable live viewing. Download and install the Amcrest browser plugin on your PC or Mac to enable live viewing (you may need to enable the plugin in order to view live video for your specific browser). Once the plugin is installed, you may need to refresh the page on your browser. The following example is done in Internet Explorer:

IP Configuration

The camera is now successfully accessible by PC or Mac and you can now access the advanced settings.

1. Select Setup in the top right hand corner on the interface to access the Advanced Configuration screen.

2. Using the Menu Bar on the left click the Network tab down, select TCP/IP. The TCP/IP and P2P settings will appear as shown in the image below.

3. Under Ethernet Card, select the desired default connection. Wired or Wireless, upon selecting the default connection ensure that you have the Mode set to Static. This way the IP Address is not Dynamic (DHCP) and will remain Static in case of a dropped connection in the future. It is crucial to port forward the Static IP Address, in this sense if the IP Address were Dynamic and to change after the port forwarding had been completed. The port forwarding would need to be configured again, or the IP Address set back to its original configuration.

4. Take a screenshot or write down the IP Address for later use within the router or to provide to your ISP if necessary.

5. Save all the changes you’ve made so far by clicking Save in the bottom right of the TCP/IP settings page.

Connection Configuration

The cameras IP Address set to Static, the ports on the camera can now be configured.

1. Using the Menu Bar on the left Click the Network tab down, select Connection. Inside the connection tab you will see the following menu

2. Set the TCP Port, UDP Port, and HTTP Port to any desired number within its permitted port number selection.

3. Write down or take a screenshot of the TCP Port, UDP Port, and HTTP Port down next to the IP Address,

4. Once you click Save to apply the changes, the camera will reset its ports requiring you to login again and/or navigate to the set IP Address with its new HTTP port. (Example: IPaddress:HTTPport 192.168.1.108:80)

A redirect should occur and load the cameras IP Address with the newly selected HTTP port, but in case it doesn’t be sure to write down the HTTP port to connect to the camera once more. If you failed to retain the new information you entered and applied, proceed with the Initial Setup once more using Amcrest IP Config to find and log back in to your camera.

UPnP Configuration (Router Specific)

Before attempting to set your camera to UPnP, ensure your router is capable on UPnP. This information can be found from the manufacture or provided by the ISP. This will ultimately bypass any port forwarding required by the end-user or the ISP and set it automatically.

1. Select Setup in the top right hand corner on the interface to access the Advanced Configuration screen.

2. Using the Menu Bar on the left select the UPnP tab.

3. Enable the UPnP function.

4. Click on the (pencil.png) under Modify to edit the HTTP port number to specify its Internal and External Port numbers.

5. Do the same for the TCP and UDP port numbers as well.

6. Remember to Save and Refresh after making the changes!

Given some time the Router Status should say Mapping Succeeded if the router responded to the camera’s UPnP configuration. You can double check yourself by logging into your router and reviewing its UPnP connections.

Port Forwarding

Before attempting to port forward your router, make sure you have a necessary detailed guide on how to port forward your router.

Free help forwarding ports and detailed information for nearly any router’s Port Forwarding set up process is available at Port Forward.

Otherwise call your ISP and the information you’ve documented so far will be more than sufficient for them to fulfill your request to port forward the camera’s IP Address with the ports you’ve created.

Once you’ve finished port forwarding on your router, or have had the ISP forward the ports for you. Double check to make sure the ports you’ve had opened up are operating efficiently. I would recommend you have these checked before you get off the phone with your ISP. That way if necessary changes to the router need to be made on the spot, you’re still in contact with them.

Check to see if the ports are open by navigating to CanYouSeeMe.org, typing in the port you wish to check. Click Check Port and it will take a few seconds to load specifying whether it succeeded or failed. If it failed and it had been successfully port forwarded, please get in touch with your ISP to confirm there are no other blocks or boundaries created by the ISP, or any faults that may be found within the routers port forwarding configuration.

If the Check Port succeeded, the camera will have been successfully port forwarded, no other adjustments to the cameras configuration regarding the network will need to be made.